Preassembled unitary toilet room



Oct. 5, 1965 s. N. SMALL 3,209,371

PREASSEMBLED UNITARY TOILET ROOM Filed Jan. 17, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l E:Q. Z

BY ff/ 2'5 MMM HTTORNEY Oct. 5, 1965 s. N. SMALL PREASSEMBLED UNITARYTOILET ROOM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 17, 1963 INVENTOR. SAMUEL /VSMALL H TTOR/VE Y 3,209,371 PREASSEMBLED UNITARY 'IILET 120GB/I SamueiN. Small, 92? Vai Park Ave., Valley Stream, NX. Filed Jan. 17, 1963,Ser. No. 252,073 8 Claims. (Cl. 4 3) This invention relates to a unitaryarticle of manufacture comprising an enclosure forming a room, having adoor controlling entrance to the room and, particularly, a unitarystructure of this type and kind employing a water closet and a lavatoryto form what is commonly referred to in homes as a powder room. Moreparticularly, the invention deals with a structure of the characterdescribed, wherein the lavatory is normally disposed over the watercloset and is adapted to be swung into a raised position in givingaccess to the water closet.

Still more particularly, the invention deals with a structure of thecharacter defined employing a door structure facilitating positioning ofthe unit in corner portions of a room of a home without interferencewith opening and closing of the door and, still further, employing meansfor lighting and Ventilating the unitary room.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from thefollowing description, when taken together` with the accompanyingdrawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosedand, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable referencecharacters in each of the views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional plan view of a unit made according tomy invention, the section being substantially on the line 1-1 of FIG. 2,illustrating the parts in the position shown in full lines in FIG. 2 anddiagrammatically illustrating the plumbing.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view substantially on the broken line2-2 of FIG. 1, illustrating in dotted lines the bowl of the lavatory inraised position with respect to the water closet and omitting backgroundshowing.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged broken sectional View substantially on the line3-3 of FIG. 1, illustrating the hinge and pivotal mounting of the door.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial section on the line 4 4 of FIG. 1,diagrammatically illustrating the plumbing with the lavatory in loweredposition and omitting background showing.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view substantially on the line 5-5 of FIG.1 on an enlarged scale and again diagrammatically showing the piping orplumbing with the lavatory and cover of the water closet in raisedposition, with part of the construction broken away and in section; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail View of the hinged and pivotedside of the door showing the door in closed position.

Considering FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, it will appear that theunitary toilet room comprises top and bottom walls 10 and 11, side walls12 and 13, a back wall 14, preferably set inwardly to a slight extentand a front doorframe, comprising side rails and 16 and a top rail 17,the latter being shown in FIG. 2. At 18 is shown a door or closure,having hinge structure comprising two hinges 19 secured to the door andtwo hinges 20 secured to the wall 12, attaching plates of these hingesbeing joined by spacer plates 21. Pivoted to suitable brackets, asindicated at 22, are upper and lower links 23 which are pivoted inrecessed portions 24 at upper and lower ends of the door 18, as seen at25. The combination of the hinges and links will provide swingingmovement of the door from the closed position, shown in FIG. 6, to theopen position, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the hinge side of thedoor extending into the room, so that BSYI Patented Giet. 5, 1965 thedoor may be operated with the side wall 12 arranged adjacent the wall ofa room. This construction provides unlimited uses or installations ofthe unitary construction.

Fixed to the outer surface of the side frame 15 is a longitudinal cleat26 and a similar cleat 27 is lixed to the inner surface of the frame 16.These cleats check movement of the door 18 into closed position and alsoeffect seals along side edges of the door.

Considering FIG. 2 of the drawing, it will appear that the forward edgeof the bottom wall 11 is preferably rounded, as seen at 28, so as toobviate any obstruction in passage into the enclosure of the room.

Suitably secured to the bottom wall 11 and the back wall 14 is the watercloset assemblage or structure, generally identified by the referencecharacter 29. This comprises a toilet bowl 30, at the upper rear portionof which is the conventional water service tank, as indicated at 31. Thebowl 30 is preferably made of lightweight material and hollowed in themanner diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawing. The drainfor the bowl 30 is shown at 32 in FIG. 4, which extends to an opening 33in the bottom wall or floor 11 to facilitate coupling with plumbing in ahome. On top of the bowl 3i) is a conventional hinge seat 34, over whichis hinged a cover plate 35, to the sides of which are pivoted links 36,as seen at 37, the links 36 being also pivoted to the rear lower cornersof a wash basin assemblage 38, as seen at 39.

The assemblage 38 comprises a siutable frame, generally of the contourseen in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the drawing, and this frame is defined,in part, by top and bottom walls 4l) and 41 and side walls 42, shown insection in FIG. 4 of the drawing. Mounted within the top wall is astainless steel or other rounded or elliptical basin proper 43. Thebasin 43 has a drain 44, as well as an overow discharge 4S. At 46 isdiagrammatically seen the faucet disposed at one side of the wash basinassemblage 3S and 46 includes a hot water control valve 47 and a coldwater control valve 48, as diagrammatically seen in FIG. 4 of thedrawing.

In communication with the faucets 47, 48 are pipes 47', 48', whichextend out through one of the side walls 42 and coupled therewith areflexible hoses 49 and 50, respectively, which, in turn, are coupled withsupply pipes 51 and 52, which extend to the lower portion of the roomand terminate adjacent an opening 53 in the lioor to againfacilitate'hook-ups with water supply of the home in which theassemblage is used. Valves 54 and 5S are employed in the pipes 51, 52,respectively. At 52 is shown a branch of the pipe S2 extending to thewater service tank 31.

At 56 is shown a drainpipe suitably coupled with the drain 44 inextending through the wall 42 and with this drainpipe is coupled anotherflexible hose 57 which, in turn, couples with a trap 58, from whichextends a discharge 59 which is also directed to a position closelyadjacent the aperture 53 for coupling with the sewage disposal of ahome.

Coupled with the wall 12 is suitable strap means dil, which isdiagrammatically outlined, for support of the lower end portions of thepipes 51, 52 and 59, as indicated in FIG. 4 of the drawing.

In order to facilitate swinging movement of the wash basin assemblagefrom its lowered position, as shown in full lines in FIGS. 2 and 4, tothe raised position, indicated, in part, in dotted lines in FIG. 2 andshown in full lines in FIG. 5, links 61 have one end pivoted on thepivots 39 at each side of 33, the links at the right of FIG. 4 beingomitted for sake of clarity in illustration of the piping and tubingemployed, but the link 61 at the right side of FIG. 4 is `clearlyillustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawing. The links 61 have their other endsmounted on pivots 62 mounted in connection with the side walls 12 and13, one of these pivots being clearly shown in FIG. 4, and anothersimilar pivot 63 is shown in said figure for links 64, which are pivotedto the upper rear corners of the assemblage 33, as seen at 65 in FIGS. 2and 5 of the drawing. In the swinging movement of the assemblage 38 fromthe lowered position of FIG. 2 to the raised position of FIG. 5, it willappear that, as the assemblage is raised, the cover 35 is also raised tofully expose the seat 34. In this connection, it Will be noted that theforward edge portion of the cover 35 is contracted, as seen at 35 inFIG. l of the drawing, to generally conform with the contour of the seat34 while, at the same time, providing free leg room at opposed sides ofthe water closet 29.

Considering FIGS. 2 and 5 of the drawing, it will appear that the links61 include extensions 61', with which are coupled coil counterbalancesprings 66, ends of which are fixed to the rear wall 14, asdiagrammatically seen at 67 in FIG. 2 of the drawing, the spring 66being shown only in part in FIG. 5.

In FIG. of the drawing, part of the construction is broken away toclearly indicate the overow passage 45' extending from the overfiow 45,this passage being indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4 asuitable control plug 68 is shown to seal the discharge of the washbasin 43, which plug is omitted from FIG. 5 of the drawing.

The water closet 30 disclosed is of a more or less standard constructionwith a discharge 32 meeting requirements and no detailed illustrationsof the water closet is given from the standpoint that these arewellknown in the art and this is, of course, true for the supply tank 31and the controls thereof for discharge of water into the bowl of thecloset.

Considering FIGS. l and 2 of the drawing, I have diagrammaticallyoutlined at 69 a conventional medicine cabinet, usually having amirrored door, which is supported upon the back wall 14. Suitablysupported at the upper portion of the cabinet 69, is a fiuorescent orother lighting fixture, diagrammatically seen at 7i), arranged beneath ahood 71. Supported on the top and back walls of the room is an exhaustcasing 72, in which is arranged a motor driven fan 73, the inner end ofthe casing being open, as seen at 74, and transversing the exhaust endof the casing is a suitable filter 75, the back wall 14 having anopening '76 registering with the exhaust of the casing 72. Separatecontrols can be provided for the fan and light. However, in someinstances, these controls can be automatically actuated through openingand closing of the door, in manners well-known in the art. Alsosupported on the inner surface of the back wall 14, between 31 and 69,is a bracket 77 for supporting one or more tooth brushes, asdiagrammatically seen at 78 and a tumbler 79.

The unitary toilet room is completely assembled and shipped as assembledwith the door 1S in its closed position, suitable means being providedto retain the wash basin assemblage in the lowered position, as shown inFIG. l, and a unitary structure of this type and kind can be located inany desired position in any room or area of a home suitable for itslocation in providing for that home an extremely low cost powder room asand where a room of this type and kind is desirable. Quite often, roomsof this type and kind are utilized on lower floors of a two story home,but can be also used in conjunction with bedrooms in providingadditional toilet facilities, particularly with large families wheresuch added facilities would be an extremely practical asset. Fabricationof the units on a large scale will result in materially reducing thecost of production and bring units of this type and kind into the homeat a nominal cost and effecting a material saving over building-in astrufcture of this type and kind in a home.

In use of the unit, free access to the room is provided by theparticular hinge mounting of the door which is employed and, when thedoor is closed, ample room is provided between the door and the variousmembers of the toilet assemblage. From a standpoint of description, thevarious piping can be generally referred to as plumbing, part of whichincludes the flexible tube or housing to compensate for movement of thewash basin assemblage into its different positions.

The overow discharge 4S will prevent overflow from the basin 43 andinsure discharge from the basin in the event that the assemblage 38 isswung into the raised position with water contained in the basin. Thedoor structure, in addition to permitting free action regardless of theposition of the room, also facilitates ample clearance in front of theroom by reason of the fact that only about one-half of the door extendsbeyond the room, as shown in FIG. l.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A unitary room of the character defined comprising an enclosuredefined by top, bottom, back and side walls, a door for said enclosure,a water closet assemblage and a wash basin assemblage both arranged, intheir entirety, at all times within the walls of the enclosure adjacentsaid back wall, said water closet assemblage including a bowl fixedlymounted on said bottom and back walls, a seat and cover having a commonhinge coupling with the upper portion of said bowl, two pairs of linkspivotally supported on said side walls, one link in each pair beingpivoted to the upper sides of said wash basin assemblage, the other linkin each pair being pivoted to the lower sides of said wash basinassemblage, said pairs of links providing movement of the Wash basinassemblage from a position within the enclosure adjacent and above saidseat and cover to a raised position clearing the major portion of thetop of said seat, a pair of links pivoted to sides of the cover and topivots of said other links at the lower sides of the wash basinassemblage for movement of the cover into raised and lowered positionswith said wash basin assemblage, said water closet assemblage and washbasin assemblage including plumbing arranged and supported within theroom enclosure adjacent the back wall and a side wall, ends of saidplumbing being accessible through said bottom wall, and part of saidplumbing including flexible tubes compensating for movement of the washbasin assemblage into raised and lowered positions.

2. A unitary enclosure as defined in claim 1, wherein springs have oneend coupled with a wall of the enclosure, and the other end thereofcoupled with extensions of one link in each of said first named pairs oflinks in counterbalancing said wash basin assemblage.

3. A unitary enclosure as defined in claim 1, wherein said wash basinassemblage includes a frame, a basin proper supported in the frame, ahot and cold water faucet supply mounted on the frame with the faucetdisposed over said basin, said basin including a drain, and the drainand hot and cold water supply means including the flexible tubescompensating for movement of the wash basin assemblage into raised andlowered positions.

4. A unitary enclosure as defined in claim 1, wherein an exhaust casingis supported in conjunction with the inner surfaces of top and backwalls, said casing having open ends, the back wall having an openingregistering with one end of said casing, and an electrically operatedfan in said casing for exhausting air from said room through said lastnamed opening.

5. A unitary enclosure as defined in claim 4, wherein said exhaustcasing includes removable filter means.

6. A unitary enclosure as defined in claim 1, wherein said door includesdual hinge and link supports within said enclosure and mounted upon aside wall and the door for maintaining movement of the door withinboundaries defined by spacing of the side walls of said enclosure,whereby either side of the enclosure can be positioned adjacent a wallof a room in which the enclosure is arranged.

7. A unitary enclosure as defined in claim 6, wherein the enclosureincludes a doorframe defined by top and side rails, and said side railsincluding cleats checking movement of the door into closed position.

8. In a unitary toilet room of the character defined, a completeenclosure including a movable door defining said room, a water closetassemblage fXedly supported in the lower rear portion of said room, saidassemblage including a bowl and plumbing in said room, ends of saidplumbing being accessible through at least one wall of the room, a washbasin assemblage above said rst named assemblage, means for movablysupporting the wash basin assemblage from a lowered position spacedabove the bowl of the rst named assemblage to a raised position withinsaid room above and oifset with respect to the rst named assemblage toclear the major portion of the top of said bowl, the bowl including aseat and cover hingedly pivoted to the rear of the bowl, and meanscoupling the cover directly with the Wash basin assemblage for movementof the cover into raised position in movement of the Wash basinassemblage into raised position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,412,109 4/22Evans 16-163 2,036,984 4/ 36 Salvoni 4 6 2,101,523 12/37 Willis 4 32,498,255 2/50 Dean et al. 4-169 2,552,546 5/51 Fergusson 4-3 3,011,17712/61 Haughey 4-170 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,195,242 5/59 France.

LEWIS I. LENNY, Primary Examiner.

FRANK H. BRONAUGH, Examiner.

1. A UNITARY ROOM OF THE CHARACTRE DEFINED COMPRISING AN ENCLOSUREDEFINED BY TOP, BOTTOM, BACK AND SIDE WALLS, A DOOR FOR SAID ENCLOSURE,A WATER CLOSET ASSEMBLAGE AND A WASH BASIN ASSEMBLAGE BOTH ARRANGED, INTHEIR ENTIRETY, AT ALL TIMES WITHIN THE WALLS OF THE ENCLOSURE ADJACENTSAID BACK WALL, SAID WATER CLOSET ASSEMBLAGE INCLUDING A BOWL FIXEDLYMOUNTED ON SAID BOTTOM AND BACK WALLS, A SEAT AND COVER HAVING A COMMONHINGED COUPLING WITH THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID BOWL, TWO PAIRS OF LINKSPIVOTALLY SUPPORTED ON SAID SIDE WALLS, ONE LINK IN EACH PAIR BEINGPIVOTED TO THE UPPER SIDES OF SAID WASH BASIN ASSEMBLAGE THE OTHER LINKIN EACH PAIR BEING PIVOTED TO THE LOWER SIDES OF SAID WASH BASINASSEMBLAGE, SAID PAIRS OF LINKS PROVIDING MOVEMENT OF THE WASH BASINASSEMBLAGE FORM A POSITION WITHIN THE ENCLOSURE ADJACENT AND ABOVE SAID